Thursday, 29 June 2017

26010 has the signal to enter the yard at Inverkeithing on Tuesday, 13th March 1979. This picture was taken on the way to a university exam, I saw 47701 for the first time when I arrived at Edinburgh that day, and then on to the exam. I took the picture, film and processing were on a limited budget, knowing that the semaphore signals were only there for a short while longer - the then new cabinets and trunking are visible on the right.

Inverkeithing Central Junction signal box, seen in the distance, dated from the 1890 developments for the Forth Bridge, and was closed on 30th July 1979. Images on Canmore.

At a similar location, noting the small wall on the left, 68022 arriving with 2K14 18:16 Glenrothes with Thornton - Edinburgh, Wednesday 21st June 2017. The signalling cabinet is still at the right, but off-picture.

In review of my video I found that this Pullman Parlour First (FP) coach is now "AMBER" which was a new one for me. It is car E325E, at one time "AMETHYST", then on the Strathspey Railway as their 108 (on BR1 bogies as BR wanted their Commonwealth bogies back), later stored at the Mid-Hants from April 2005 until December 2013. Returned to service by West Coast in June 2017, also now numbered 99025.

Wednesday, 21 June 2017

73119 Borough of Eastleigh was new to traffic as E6025 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows in March 1966. Withdrawn it was sold in 2003, eventually resident at the Keith & Dufftown Railway from 2004. Moved in early 2009 to Knight's Rail Services at Eastleigh Works,where it was named at the 2009 open day, and who ran it at the Swanage Diesel Gala in 2010. Acquired by GBRf in late 2011, and returned to traffic in 2012.

73961 Alison was next in production at Vulcan Foundry, entering traffic as D6026 in April 1966. Renumbered to 73120 and later to 73209 when it joined the Gatwick Express fleet, later joining GBRf following storage between 2001 and 2003. Rebuilt at Brush in 2013- 2015 becoming 73961.

Arriving at Harman's Cross with 10:00 from Swanage.

Returning into Swanage with 11:30 from Norden.

Approaching Harman's Cross with 14:30 from Swanage.

Departing Norden with 16:00 train.

73119 was used as a brake translator, so was working on the train side through the day. Seen at Norden, having arrived earlier with 17:30 from Norden.

Thursday, 15 June 2017

66954 is on of an order of 10 lower emission locomotives leased by Freightliner from JP Morgan / Beacon, of which 5 have just recently been stored. Here it was working 4O57 13:00 Wentloog - Maritime. [UPDATE: 66954 was stored at Wentloog on 10th June, after a movement from Southampton]

Sunday, 11 June 2017

SORRY - "FAKE NEWS" It is 66954 that was stored in this way, and as noted when I took a picture of it on 2nd June, this one does belong to the JP Morgan / Beacon lease group. The other last pictures seen on Flickr were of workings on 2nd June, so I am wondering if this was its final day onetwothree .

66850 David Maidment OBE (previously 66577, but now owned by Colas) picks up the JNA, MLA and IEA wagons for the 6Y43 19:55 Eastleigh - Hoo.

MLA 503572 was built by Wagony Swidnica in Poland 2008, now Greenbrier, with current model.

70816 makes its arrival with 6O31 17:30 from Westbury.

This is believed to be the first arrival of 70816 at Eastleigh.

The consist was of about 38 four wheeled wagons, types MFA (cut-down reduced height MHA), MHA, MPA (brakes modified from MHA but still a 'Coalfish') & MTA.394942, originally an HAA, converted to MHA at EWS Margam in 2002-4.

From Adrian Nicholls on Flickr: "The 'Coalfish' traditionally carried TOPS code MHA but in an effort to modernize the vehicles being retained the braking system has been modified with the front mounted wheel brake pads removed for a new more readily available design braking on the wheel back. To distinguish the modified brake pad vehicles from the standard MHA's they have been re-coded MPA. Carlisle Kingmoor C&W have been carrying out the conversions ..."

Saturday, 10 June 2017

On the General Election Day, 70809 has arrived at Eastleigh, and is awaiting a signal to proceed to platform 2 and into the yard. 6O31 runs most weekdays, and departs from Westbury at 17:30. On this occasion the consist is a long welded rail train.

Wednesday, 7 June 2017

D8059 was new on 12th May 1961 from Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn Ltd,, Darlington, and was allocated to Sheffield Darnall, later to Tinsley. Renumbered to 20059 in January 1973, and later 20302 in 1986-87, withdrawn in May 1993. Preserved by the Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company, initially located at Yeovil, later at Tyseley, to the Severn Valley Railway in 2009.

D8188 was new on 21st January 1967 from English Electric Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, allocated to Nottingham Division (Toton). Renumbered to 20188 in January 1973, and withdrawn in January 1990, similarly now preserved by the Somerset & Dorset Locomotive Company. In the mid 2000's the locomotive was at the Swanage Railway, but departed to the Severn Valley to support the embankment repair activities following storm damage. Like 26043, I first saw this locomotive at Glasgow Works on 4th October 1980, in which month it completed a classified repair, followed by one further in March 1985 at the same location.

The rumour network suggests that this pair may shortly be moving from the SVR base to a new location or locations.

D8188 leads from Swanage with 10:45 to Norden.

(Above and below) D8059 returning into Swanage with 11:50 from Norden.